The $100 million plant had been in the works since 2005, when Clean Burn approached the Hoke County Board of Commissioners with the project.

Two years later, the plant had received $35 million in loan guarantees from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as an incentive to develop renewable energy sources. Millions more came from a bank loan and private investors.

Player said the auction drew plenty of interest, but no additional bids.

“A number of people were there,” he said.

Interested third-party bidders have until 5 p.m. on Sept. 6 to bid on the plant. That bid should be a minimum of 5 percent more than the opening bid, or $36,225,000, Player said.

After that, other bidders would have 10 working days to place another upset bid. The bid would need to be at least 5 percent higher than the previous bid, Player said.

“Theoretically, that could go on indefinitely,” he said. “I’ve seen bids be upset for nine months.”

He added: “Obviously, the lender and debtor hope that happens.”

When the final bid is placed, he said, the highest bidder would have 30 days to close the deal.

100 employees

The plant was expected to employ about 100 people and produce about 60 million gallons of ethanol a year, beginning in summer 2008.

But delays plagued the plant, and production began slowly in late spring 2010.

The plant had been producing ethanol for less than a year, when owners announced in March they would shut down production temporarily because of the rising cost of corn.

Production was expected to resume a few months later, when the cost of corn went down, owners said at the time.

Within a month of suspending production, however, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In a statement, company officials said the bankruptcy filing was a way to protect their investments while figuring out a plan to resume production.

“Despite good faith discussions with its secured lenders and key vendors, the company has been unable to reach a consensual agreement on a proposal to return the plant to profitability,” the statement said.